Only Charlie could look back on a typical October day of incessant rain and relate how much they enjoyed the day and how glorious it all was.  It was a fair mileage that Charlie and Tom Idle covered too, all 135 miles.  It also sounds like Charlie’s pride and joy, his two Bob Lucas front lamp is also heading for a long rest in a front lamp cemetery !

Charlie is correct in what he wrote, this was a lovely day with wonderful autumn views and all the superlatives that could be needed were indeed present.  It is just so difficult to enjoy what can be seen when your back tyre is constantly going down.  As if to confirm the aged state of Charlie’s bike we get to hear what the tyre size was – wait for it, 28″ in diameter by one and three eighth inches in width.  A butchers bike wheel if ever there was one !!

Sounds like Charlie got a lot out of his 61 inch gear today, with all the climbing.  I can confirm this was a very hilly day.  Of more interest perhaps, Charlie comes across as virtually a teetotaller, certainly in his youth whilst on tour he would usually stop at Temperance Hotels and the like, unless they were cheaper.  But reading between the lines today, it looks like they had a high old time in the Dog and Grouse.  The elderly gentleman almost certainly had enjoyed himself adequately into the bargain.